WEB CARRIED TOOTHPICK DISPENSER

• US 3,709,403 A
• Filed: 08/05/1971
• Issued: 01/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allen C. Harriman
• Original Assignee: Allen C. Harriman
• Inventors: Harriman, Allen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Application Number:
  US05/169,341
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 221/70,71,251,74,25,26 225/106,13
• US Class Current: 221/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/02 Toothpicks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/393 Web restrainer

Abstract

A device for dispensing wrapped toothpicks from a supply that is in the form of a continuous web of protective material within which the toothpicks are sealed, either singly or in pairs, in parallel spaced relation transversely of the web. When a sealed toothpick package is taken from the dispenser, the next toothpick package is brought to delivery position before the first toothpick or toothpick pair still sealed in its envelope, is detached from the web.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing wrapped toothpicks from a supply web of protective material within which the toothpicks are sealed in spaced parallel relation transversely of the web, the web having partial transverse cuts to provide lines of severance defining sealed toothpick packages, said apparatus comprising a casing for containing the web, the casing having access opening at which the central portion of a toothpick package is exposed, a guideway for the web to and past the access opening of the casing, the casing having an opening the full width of the web and communicating with the access opening, said guideway having laterally spaced portions which engage portions of the web on each side of the access opening, and package detaching means pivotally mounted rearwardly of the web on each side of the access opening, said pivotally mounted means having first end portions extending into the path of an advancing first toothpick to rock the pivotally mounted meaNs upon withdrawing the exposed toothpick package along the guideway toward the full width opening, said detaching means having second end portions movable into the path of the toothpick of the following package to stop the advance thereof and sever the web between packages when the pivotally mounted detaching means has been rocked by the withdrawal of the first toothpick package.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the pivotally mounted detaching means comprises levers connected by a member rearwardly of the access opening, which member serves as a counterweight tending to tilt the first end portions of the levers into the path of the toothpick of the first package.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first end portions of the pivotally mounted detaching means comprise shoulder regions and the second end portions comprise corner regions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the pivotally mounted detaching means includes end surfaces engaged by an advancing toothpick following engagement of the latter with the shoulder regions to maintain the corner regions of the detaching means in the path of the following toothpick.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including stop means for limiting the rocking movement of the pivotally mounted means across the guideway to a position in which the shoulder regions of the pivotally mounted means block the advance of a wrapped toothpick along the guideway.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the casing comprises side walls between which a supply roll of wrapped toothpicks is supported on an axis transversely of the side walls, the casing having a sloping front, the upper portion of which contains the guideway means and the central access opening, a resilient roller behind the guideway adjacent the upper portion thereof over which the web passes from the supply roll downwardly into the guideway, the front of the casing below the guideway region being open between the side walls the full width of the web.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 having centerless supporting means for rotatably supporting a supply web of wrapped toothpicks in roll form within the casing.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 having centerless roll supporting means within the casing comprising oblique spaced plates for rotatably supporting a supply web of wrapped toothpicks in roll form.